Weaner



Feb. 23, 1954 c. H. PATTERSON 2,669,967

WEANER Filed Aug. 8, 1952 Charles H. Par/arson INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 and colt weaners and the principal object of the invention is to provide a weanerhaving a closure member swingable between operative and inoperative positions and means for automatically lock-' ing the closure member in its operative position when the calf or colt raises its head to nurse. However, when the animal lowers its head to graze, the locking means are automatically released and the closure member assumes its inoperative position.

Specifically, the instant invention is an improvement on the device disclosed in my Patent No. 1,303,587 which was granted to me on May 13, 1919. After working with the weaner constructed in accordance with my prior patent, I found that the closure locking means lend themselves to structural and functional improvements such as are embodied in the instant device.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its efficient operation, in its durability and in its adaptability to economcal manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specifica- E ;S "PAT*ENT- oFFl-ce n 'u-tT: .2 .13. TH.

. AppIicatiOnAugust S, v

tion proceeds, the invention consists essentially.

of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention in position on an animals head, the latter being raised;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, similar to that shown in Figure 1, but with the head lowered;

Figure 3 is a front view of the invention per se;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line 44 in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the closure member used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the weaner is designated generally by the reference character In .and embodies in its construction a hollow, muzzle receiving body [2 which is preferably formed from resinous plastic material and is provided with a front opening M. The body It is sustained in position on the head of an animal by suitable harness It.

A closure for the opening 14 consists of a substantially U-shaped member 1 8 wh h s also preferably formed from resinous plj' aterial and includes a convex, closure form n'g" bight portion Iila and a pair of side pieces 20, 22.

The'side pieces 20, 22 are attached by coaxial pivot elements 24 to the opposite sides of the body I2 so that the closure member I8 maybe swung from its Operative position, as sho'wn'in Figures 1, 3 and 4 to its inoperative position shown in Figure 2. The closure member 18 is gravityresponsive and a substantially U-shaped bar 26 is secured to the closure member by means of the aforementioned elements 24 and by means of additional elements 28 to assure positive swinging movement of the closure member in response to the effect of gravity.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the animal's head is lowered as shown in Figure 2, such as for exampl while grazing, the weight of the bar 26 will sustain the closure member 20 in its open position, leaving the opening l4 uncovered. However, when the animal raises its head to nurse, the combined weight of the closure member l8 and the bar 26 will automatically swing the closure member to its operative position, covering the opening 14.

Means are provided for automatically locking the closure member in its operative, closed position, these means involving the provision of an outwardly offset portion 30 intermediate the ends of the side piece 20 and a hook 32 is pivotally mounted in this offset portion by means of a pivot element 34. When the head of the animal is raised and the member 3 is in its closed position, the hook 32 lockably engages a laterally projecting detent 36 on a side of the body I2, so as to prevent the closure member i8 from being opened. However, when the animal lowers its head, the hook 32, in response to gravity, automatically becomes disengaged from the detent 36 and opening of the closure member is facilitated.

It will be observed that when the closure member I8 is in its operative position, the convex configuration of the bight portion [8a provides a vent 38 in communication with the top' of the opening M in the body [2, so as to facilitate breathing. (See Figure 4.) Moreover, a flange In at the bottom edge of the opening l4 in the body l2 abuts the lower edge of the bight portion IBa, so as to afford a stop for the closure member in its operative position. Excessive opening movement of the closure member is prevented by the engagement of the bar 26 with the underside of the body 12, as shown in Figure 2.

It is believed that the advantages and useof the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown 5 and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing; from the spirit and scope of the inven- 10 tion as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a weaner, the combination of a muzzle-re ceiving body provided at the front thereof with 15 an opening, a gravity-responsive closure=forsaid opening comprising a substantially ,lJ- shapedm member including a closure-formin bight portion and a pair of side pieces, coaxial pivots at-N. taching said side pieces to the opposite sides of 20 References Cited in the file of this patent if" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name Date 1,061,113 'P'atterson May 6, 1913 1303,587- Patterson May 13, 1919 1,509,373 Newsum Sept. 23, 1924 

